Who knows best? Fans v Managers?

[bluebastardo]

I have to say that my eyebrows raise somewhat when folks come out with the old phrase " He's the manager, and you're just a fan, so therefore he knows best ".

I can't help thinking that if you know football, then you know football, and there are thousands of guys up and down the country who would buy and sell many managers when it comes to knowledge of football, the clubs, the players, and the history of the game.

Not me, but they exist.

Yes, the manager sees the players on the training pitch, and decides from that who plays and who doesn't, but the fan watches both the performances of those players, and the players from the other clubs around the world too.

The fan discusses each game, player, opponent etc passionately, and the fan is often someone who also played football themselves, and watched the game all their lives with incredible loyalty to the cause.

The manager gets the final say, but do they really know better than the fans, and is it a little disrespectful to the fan to tell him / her that the manager always knows best?

After all, there are few managers that have not been sacked, or have been under great pressure to improve performances, which shows they often get it wrong.

I'm not going to say fans should manage teams, but I will say that their voices deserve a little more respect than they often get, and many could actually do the job well given the chance.

On the same point, I'm not knocking any manager either, but merely curious on your views regarding the knowledge of the fans.

Are we all really that clueless, or do the fans deserve more credit for intelligence?

Would any manager benefit from discussing things with the fans on the forums. even if it will never happen?

What say ye?

 

[Hayee]

Basically, we see our team week in week out all of our lives, managers come and go. Also, fans in the stands see things from a different angle so simply, yes the manager could learn a thing or two from the supporters

 

[best little spaniard]

That's a good point actually.


I'd love to be a manager me. I reckon i'd do a good job at it.

But yeah, manager knows best. He sees the players every day, and most have probably been deeply involved in football for most of their lives.

 

[atrottel]

(BB reaches for the favoured populist card...)

Many football fans know a lot about the sport. But what is the sport? Is it history? Is it the club? Is it talent development? Is it dealing with multi-millionaire players? Is it managing a multi-million pound budget?

I know a lot about skiing. In fact, I'd reckon to know more than just about anyone here, given my experience. Does that mean I could give Chemmy Alcott a run for her money? No. Could I give her a few worthwhile technical tips? Not a chance. About the most I could do would be to give her some tips about a resort that she might not have been to (just like a southwest Blue could give DM some tips about an Exeter City youngster that it might be worth taking a look at).

Most of us know little about the tactical and strategic decisions that are made in the days and weeks coming up to a game or a season. And it's self-evident that we know nothing of the facts about who is performing in practice or who is carrying an injury or who is angling for a move or who is ready to move up a notch.

What we can do is say what we would like in terms of the end-product. And what we didn't like when we've seen it. But as to how to get to that desired product - well, it's all just internet hot air which has been opened up to anyone with a keyboard and an opinion (enjoyable though it may be).

And anyone that seriously thinks otherwise needs to stop taking themselves so seriously. (In my opinion, )

 

[Goat]

We think we know best, but what would be the point in a Manager talking to a fans forum, its not as if we all agree on everything is it?

Nice idea, but totally unworkable.

In Moyes we trust.

 

[Jamo Martinez]

We think we know best, but what would be the point in a Manager talking to a fans forum, its not as if we all agree on everything is it?

Nice idea, but totally unworkable.

In Moyes we trust.

Hey, I agree on everything.

Oh by the way , happy birthday. I did put it on the appropriate thread but I wrote it in Spanish, and a s a football fan you're probably too thick to know what it means

 

[DENNIS STEVENS]

The manager (whoever he may be at any given time) is in the best position to make the necessary decisions, but they're only human & will be bound to get things wrong. Each manager has his own style of coaching & his own tactical approach & sometimes that can vary in effectiveness due to factors beyond his control, which is one reason why I think most managers tend to move on, or get moved on, every now & again.

 

[chicoazul]

The fans think with their heart, any successful manager detaches himself and does what's best for success - as would be illustrated by me starting Jo in the libero role.

On a serious note though, managers over fans every time. Le internet has given a voice to too many loons and a false blanket of self importance to those with strong opinions. I'm Exhibit A.

When clubs listen to fans they become Newcastle, if we listened to our fans then Moyes possibly wouldn't have been appointed and likely would have been sacked four years ago.

 

[bluebastardo]

Don't you often wonder why managers seem to pick under performing players constantly?

Why they take 70 minutes to sub someone that the fans want off after ten?

Would a Prem manager win our fantasy league?

BTW Atrottel.
Just skipped 2 pairs of perfectly good skis only a few days ago.
If only I'd have known m8.